Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Boots to shut 47 pharmacies in new wave of store closures

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Boots first announced plans to slash its portfolio of UK branches last year.

The health and beauty chain said it would reduce its number of chemists by 300, forcing high-street shoppers to visit other stores elsewhere.

In a new update, the brand confirmed that 253 stores have now shut for good as part of these plans.

While the brand confirmed that all closures would offer an alternative store less than three miles away, 47 are still yet to cease trading.

It comes after the pharmacy chain reported a jump in sales for the latest quarter, as its parent firm cut profit forecasts and announced US store closures.

Boots UK saw higher sales across its pharmacy and retail businesses over the quarter to the end of May, however, total sales growth slowed to 1.6 percent as a result of store closures over the past year.

Closures so far have seen the brand’s store estate reduced from 2,200 down to around 1,900 sites.

These include four in Cornwall; Pool, Camborne, Redruth, and St Blazey. Elsewhere in the South West of England, Plymouth has seen four branches close, along with one in Teignbridge and another in Swindon.

One of the stores earmarked for closure last year remains open in St Austell, Cornwall. The Carlyon Road branch can be found on Polkyth Parade and has been called a “lifeline” pharmacy for locals.

Speaking previously to Cornwall Live, Michelle Dormand, 44, said the closure would have a massive impact on her family as they rely on it for quick access to different medications and supplements her disabled son needs.

She explained: “I can’t drive and I’ve got arthritis in my hips so walking up and down that big hill carrying all my son’s medicines is going to be a lot. We have a lot of medications to collect sometimes and they weigh an absolute ton.”

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